Aldous Huxley 1894-1963: author of Brave New World

1. Aldous Huxley1894-1963: author of Brave New World

2. Huxley’s Early Life • Born in Surrey, England • Grandfather was known as “Darwin’s Bulldog,” one of the most prominent naturalists of the 19th century • When 17, suffered from an illness (keratitis punctata) which left him practically blind • Taught French for year at Eton where Eric Blair was one of his pupils

3. Huxley’s Writing Years • Moved to Italy in 1920s where he became friends with D.H.Lawrence • A few years later, moved to the States (Taos, New Mexico) • 1939: encountered Bates Method for Natural Vision Improvement—sight improved dramatically

4. Huxley’s Later Years • 1950s: met psychiatrist Humphry Osmond who influenced him into mysticism and mescaline • Then wrote the essay “The Doors of Perception” about his drug experiences • Appeared on cover of Sgt. Pepper’s L.H.C.B. as “18”

5. Huxley’s End • 1960: diagnosed with cancer and died on same day of JFK assassination • Death made famous b/c he took 100 micrograms of LSD as he lay dying.

6. Historical Context--1931 • Beginning of “Great Depression” • Stock marker crash of ’29 • Caused banks to close, wiping out savings and unemployment soared • American farmers suffering from drought, which led to poverty and migration out of farming belt • Therefore: ppl longed for kind of economic security Huxley gives citizens in book

7. But, before that… • 1920s: • Technology replacing workers—leading to unemployment • Advertising was BIG: increased consumer demand • Henry Ford (modern factory assembly line): many ppl buying car on credit for 1st time—overspending and taking on debt

8. So, all of these things affected Huxley’s vision of future • Saw Ford as revolutionary (makes Ford a god) • Ideals were changing (Huxley questioned communism and social class) • Ppl embracing free love and contraceptives • Women smoking in public, cutting hair and wearing shorter skirts

9. Other things affecting Huxley’s vision of future • Human Engineering began (Ivan Pavlov) showed one can create a conditional response in animals (bell and dogs) • Embryology (Hans Speman): manipulated the human fetus in womb in order to influence it • Eugenics Movement (selective breeding): attempt to limit childbearing of lower class • Hypnopaedia (sleep teaching) • Freud: childhood affects adulthood

10. Title Significance • From The Tempest (V.i.) when Miranda says, “How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world that has such people in it” • Brave means “fine” or “splendid” in this context • She makes this remark after being exiled and sees mankind for the first time • Ironically, these ppl are same ones who plotted against her and her father • However, she is so overcome by wonderment of what she’s seeing that she calls “good” what could be “evil”

11. Title Significance Cont. • Father replies, “Tis new to thee” • Implying that all might not be as wonderful as if first seems • There will be parallels between Miranda and John the Savage from BNW • Both are anxious to embrace a way of life that neither knows or understands

12. A Few Notes about BNW Apologue: a novel of ideas; ideas are important; characters and plot are secondary. Filled with satire, parody, and irony which work together to present “ordinary” scenes that reveal twisted/absurd values of citizens; because many of these practices are seen in a futuristic society can be found today, the reader is lead to question values of contemporary society.